Short Summary

A planned fight between Belgium's Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Jean Pierre Coopman and Muhammed Ali, the current World Champion, has been banned by the European Boxing Union.

Description

A planned fight between Belgium's Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Jean Pierre Coopman and Muhammed Ali, the current World Champion, has been banned by the European Boxing Union.

The fight was announced by Coopman's manager on Monday (22 December). It was then scheduled to take place on 20 February, 1976, in either Puerto Rico, Las Vegas or Paris.

But the proposed match met with incredulity and shocked surprise in the boxing world. Twenty-nine year-old Coopman is Belgium's only ranked heavyweight. He has won twenty and lost three of his matches in the past three years.

One of his losses was to Holland's Rudi Lubbers, one of the few recognizable names among his opponents, who have included some of the most knocked-out fighters in Europe.

The secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control, Ray Clark, called the match "absolutely ridiculous".

Then the European Boxing Union stepped in and refused to allow the bout to take place. On Saturday (27 December) it was reported that Coopman had agreed to abide by the union's decision.

Earlier, Coopman had said that although it seemed he was beaten from the outset, he would train hard and reach good form so the match was not just a formality.

He said he intended to fight to win and would fight like Joe Frazier, who is his favourite boxer. He also said he was upset when Frazier was beaten by Ali in Zaire and was determined to have revenge on Frazier's behalf.

SYNOPSIS: The European Boxing Union has banned a fight between Belgium's Heavyweight Champion, Jean Pierre Coopman, seen here in training, and World Heavyweight title holder, Muhammed Ali. The fight -- announced on Monday -- was scheduled for February the twentieth next year.

But the Boxing Union stepped in after the proposed fight had been greeted with incredulity and surprise in world boxing circles. Twenty-nine-year-old Coopman, seen here wearing the head protector, is the only ranked heavyweight in Belgium. He has been fighting since he was twenty-years-old and he went to the top in Belgium, earning himself the name "the Lion of Flanders".

In the past three years he has won twenty and lost three of his fights. But the record isn't as impressive as it sounds. One of his losses was to Holland's Rudi Lubbers, one of the few recognizable names among his opponents. In fact, coopman's opponents have included Europe's most knocked-out fighters.

The reaction against the fight was severe. The British Boxing Board of Control secretary, Ray Clark, termed it "absolutely ridiculous". The European union said it stopped the fight because it did not want to see Coopman killed by Ali. On Saturday it was reported that Coopman had agreed to go along with the Union's decision.

Before agreeing not to fight, Coopman said that although it seemed he was beaten from the outset, he would train hard and reach good form so the match was not just a formality. He said he intended to fight to win and would fight like his favourite boxer -- Joe Frazier.